When part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood, a heart attack occurs. Most heart attacks result from arteries that clog up over time, eventually blocking blood flow to the heart. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.
In rare cases, warning signs can appear months before an attack. Early research has identified a link between certain facial features and an increased risk of heart problems. Some signs in the face could provide clues about your heart’s health.
1. Cholesterol Deposits Around Eyelids
Cholesterol and other natural fats can form well-defined flat or slightly raised yellowish growths around the eyelids, called xanthelasma. Having xanthelasma is connected to abnormal lipid levels in the blood, known as dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia increases the risk of cholesterol building up on the walls of arteries. This buildup can restrict blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.
People with cholesterol deposits on their face may also suffer from corneal arcus, where cholesterol deposits give the eye a hazy white, gray, or blue opaque ring on the outer edges of the cornea.
2. Receding Hairline and Bald Spots
Baldness, particularly in men with other risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, could indicate a higher risk of heart disease. Researchers found that men with high cholesterol and severe baldness at the crown of the head had nearly three times the risk of heart disease compared to those with high cholesterol but no baldness.
The biological link between hair loss and heart disease might involve elevated levels of male hormones. The scalp has a higher density of male-hormone receptors, and high levels of hormones like testosterone are linked to an increased risk of hardened arteries and blood clotting.
3. Earlobe Crevices May Play a Role
A study involving 340 patients found that an earlobe crease was associated with aging and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The crease suggested more severe heart disease in people showing symptoms. The researchers wrote that the earlobe crease “may identify a subset of patients prone to early aging and the early development of coronary artery disease, whose prognosis might be improved by early preventative measures.”
Another study examined the bodies of 300 individuals who had died from various causes. The research found diagonal creases were linked with cardiovascular causes of death. The researchers noted a strong association between earlobe creases and cardiovascular death in men and women when factors like age, height, and diabetes were controlled for.
